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Book Review of The House of the Spirits

The House of the Spirits


A family saga with a little magic realism. Following the life of Esteban Trueba and the lives of three woman in his life, his wife Clara, his daughter Blanca, and granddaughter Alba. Each character is woven with their own little eccentricities. Over three generations we see Esteban grow older and meaner while the women become strong and more compassionate. Esteban rises in political status and believes it is better to be feared than loved. Esteban's family do not always share in his politics or with how he treats people in general.

I truly loved this book. I loved the characters, well except the Esteban and his grandson. There is a sort of melancholy throughout the book. This haunting sadness is part of what makes The House Of The Spirits a captivating read. That and the different character quirks and how they evolved over time.

I only wish there was more magical realism with some answers as to why the women in Clara's family had the special powers they did. I especially wonder about Rosa and Alba with the mermaid's hair.

Even though I have finished reading I can tell this a book that will stick in my memory as long as possible. I feel I am still absorbing some of it. I am curious to read more of Isabel Allende books. I have always loved family sagas and fantasy/ magical realism. So to put them together it like a pb&j sandwich. Yum!